WATCH: Amoeba testing in state lab

BATON ROUGE – In a lab requiring security clearance similar to military compounds, scientists are working to test water from water systems across Louisiana.

This summer, three systems have been found to contain a brain-eating amoeba. At a state lab, experts are checking and testing samples from other systems.

"[it's not] a test where you basically put some water in a machine and it spits out an answer," Dr. Elizabeth Fava explained as she tested water Monday morning. "Both of the analysts doing this testing in the state lab are Ph.D. Level scientists," she added, suggesting the work is tedious and required expert understanding of amoebas.

"We're really doing a public health service. I think about that child, and other children and parents, that we are potentially, very likely, protecting," she said in an interview with WBRZ reporter Brett Buffington.

WBRZ obtained a rare look inside the test operation. Watch the video attached to this story for more information.